In order to provide adequate protection, a ring of fortresses was build by General Henri Alexis Brialmont (1821-1903), around Antwerpen, starting from the year 1859 until 1914.

An initial fortress defense line was build from 1859 until 1879. (called 'safety ring' in 1906) This line was difficult to defend, as these fortresses were build from brick and were only 5 to 6 km away from the city. Eight fortresses were constructed numbered 1 to 8.

A more powerful line of resistance - much further away from the city (10 to 15 km) - was build from 1870 to 1906 and later extended from 1906 to 1914 when more funds became available. In 1906, this ring was called the 'main resistance line'.

A total of 22 fortresses were build and numerous smaller redoubts (a small fortified resistance point or minor defence work - called 'Schans' or 'redoubt') , making up a ring around Antwerp of 95 km. In 1914, each fort was standing roughly 5 km from the next one and in between two fortresses a redoubt could be found.